J.P. Morgan Bangs the Drum on These 2 ‘Strong Buy’ Stocks

We’ve turned the calendar on 2026, and the market’s focus is on what comes next. The big questions haven’t changed: can the bull run extend into the new year? Is AI showing signs of a bubble, or is it still in the early innings? And will the Fed continue cutting rates? The answers to these will shape market direction in the months ahead and well into the year.Claim 70% Off TipRanks PremiumUnlock hedge fund-level data and powerful investing tools for smarter, sharper decisions Stay ahead of the market with the latest news and analysis and maximize your portfolio's potential Ken Goldman of the JPMorgan’s Americas Equity Research team argues that resilient fundamentals and easing financial conditions support further upside for U.S. equities, translating into a constructive outlook for the S&P 500. “We are constructive on the S&P 500’s outlook both in terms of price target (7,500 by YE26) and above-trend earnings growth of 13-15% for at least the next two years (2026 EPS of $315 and 2027 EPS of $355 vs. Consensus of $309 and $352, respectively),” Goldman said. “However, should the Fed cut rates further (due to improving inflation dynamics), we see greater upside with the S&P 500 likely surpassing 8,000 in 2026.” In an upbeat environment like that, there are sure to be winners. The stock analysts at JPM are looking for those potential winning shares, and they are banging the drums when they see them. Here are two, for a closer look. According to the data from TipRanks, both of these stocks get Strong Buy consensus ratings from Wall Street’s analysts. Here are the details. Oculis Holding (OCS) Humans are highly visual-centric, giving neuro-ophthalmic disorders a disproportionate impact on quality of life. Vision can degrade in various ways, and it is difficult to stop the damage or restore lost vision. Swiss-based Oculis is a biopharma company working on the global scene, where it works to improve eye care and save patients’ vision. The company has developed a differentiated pipeline of assets, including innovative novel product candidates for conditions such as diabetic macular edema (DME) and acute optic neuritis (AON). Oculis has an international footprint, and outside of the Swiss headquarters it has operations in the US and Iceland. A look at the company’s pipeline shows that Oculis has several drug candidate programs undergoing late-stage clinical studies. One is OCS-01, a potential treatment for DME. This condition is a leading cause of preventable blindness in adults, and affects over 37 million people around the world – that number is expected to rise to 53 million by 2040. Current treatments are invasive, involving ocular implants or direct intravitreal injections – these invasive modes directly and negatively impact patient compliance. OCS-01 is the first topical eye drop developed to address DME. The company’s two DIAMOND Phase 3 trials are now fully enrolled, with more than 800 patients, and topline data is expected during 2Q26. Oculis plans to make its NDA submission to the FDA during 2H26. We should also note that Oculis estimates the DME market at $5 billion globally. The company is also working on privosegtor (OCS-05), targeting both AON and NAION. Both conditions can cause sudden painless vision loss. The drug candidate, privosegtor, is a non-peptoid small molecule capable of crossing both the blood-brain and retinal barriers, and Oculis has several clinical trials in the works. PIONEER-1 got started during 4Q25, while PIONEER-2 and PIONEER-3 are scheduled for initiation in 1H26 and mid-2026. The company recently reported positive results from the ACUITY Phase 2 trials. At the end of Q3 this year, Oculis had $182.2 million in cash and liquid assets on hand. A capital raise campaign in October increased that to $300 million in gross cash. For JPM’s Tessa Romero, the quality and diversification of the pipeline here are key factors. As the analyst writes, “We view Oculis as offering a diversified ophthalmology pipeline with multiple shots on goal in eye indications with high/clear unmet need. In the lead indication of diabetic macular edema (DME) with its most advanced asset OCS-01, Oculis has demonstrated supportive efficacy and safety with its non-invasive and patient-friendly eye drop approach; given the prior data and validated mechanism, we believe OCS-01 has a high likelihood of success. We expect topline results from the phase 3 stage 2 DIAMOND-1 and -2 trials in 2Q26 that, if positive, would enable a potential NDA submission in 2H26, and could represent a near-term source of upside.” Looking ahead, Romero adds, “Beyond OCS-01, we see its second lead asset, privosegtor (OCS-05), as compelling across a range of neuro-ophthalmology indications for which neuroprotection could provide a meaningful benefit for patients. We view shares as well positioned for upside as Oculis generates additional data supporting the efficacy and safety for privosegtor in patients in its phase 3 studies, with readouts for the asset over the course of time (2027+).” To quantify this stance, Romero rates OCS as Overweight, with a $38 price target that points toward an 81% upside in the coming year. (To watch Romero’s track record, click here) Wall Street has clearly been impressed here, as the 8 recent analyst reviews, supporting the Strong Buy consensus rating, are unanimously positive. The stock is priced at $20.97 and its $42.63 average price target implies a one-year upside of 103%. (See OCS stock forecast)